The Huawei Nova 11 SE, which was recently launched, has several strengths and weaknesses. These include a sleek and lightweight design, a vibrant display, generous storage options, an impressive camera system, and a massive battery at an affordable price. On the flip side, the Huawei Nova 11 SE includes a 3.5mm audio jack, outdated HarmonyOS 4.0, and a Snapdragon 680 4G SoC.
This is a mid-range smartphone, feature-packed to cater for the diverse needs of modern smartphone users. It offers a stunning display, an impressive camera, and advanced biometric features. The company follows customer preferences with a sleek design and brilliant display. However, due to missing features, the device is considered a poor choice for a mid-range phone, as these features are crucial for a satisfying user experience.
Pros and Cons of the Huawei Nova 11 SE
Here are some of the pros and cons that you need to know about. Considering these, it is not recommended to buy the Huawei Nova 11 SE unless you need HarmonyOS.
Huawei Nova 11 SE Pros
- It comes with a 6.67″ display panel that packs a 1080x2400p resolution with a 395-pixel density.
- It features a 108 MP camera panel and a 32 MP selfie shooter for precision and style.
- It offers 512GB of onboard storage and a 4500mAh battery.
- It runs on HarmonyOS 4.0, Huawei’s own OS, for a smooth and seamless user experience.
Huawei Nova 11 SE Cons
- It has an outdated 680 4G, which is barely more powerful than its competitors like the Kirin 710 and is not suitable for 2023 standards.
- It lacks a microSD slot, stereo speakers, 5G support, dust and water resistance, and wireless charging.
- It is considered overpriced compared to its competitors Xiaomi, Samsung, or Apple, especially considering the many options available on the market.
Design and display
The company aims to have a sleek design, thin bezels at the bottom, and a brilliant, attractive, and elegant display. It has a metal frame and a glass back that reflects light in different patterns. The Huawei Nova 11 is slim and lightweight, making it comfortable to hold. The rear panel of the device also has a fingerprint scanner and the Huawei logo.
The device comes with a 6.67″ LCD with a 1 billion colour panel that features a 1080x2400p resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, and a pixel density of 395 PPI. The display also supports HDR10 and a 60Hz refresh rate, making the screen bright, sharp, and colourful, offering a good viewing experience for media consumption.
Performance
Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 4G SoC, designed for low-end processors. It’s not powerful or efficient and doesn’t support 5G connectivity, which is a disadvantage in 2023.
Furthermore, the device has an Adreno 610 GPU that enhances graphics, and the internal storage bundles 256GB and 512GB of onboard storage. The device has a massive 4500mAh battery and runs on HarmonyOS 4.0, Huawei’s own OS, designed for a smooth and seamless user experience.
class="wp-block-heading">Software, connectivity, and features
The software on the device is based on Android. It has some limitations because of US sanctions, meaning it can’t use GSM (Google Mobile Services). Instead, Huawei developed its own store and service called HMS (Huawei Mobile Service) and Huawei App Gallery. This limits the availability and functionality of apps and features.
It offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC, with GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS. The device has a USB Type-C 2.0 port for charging and data transfer, but there isn’t a 3.5mm audio jack, which may be a problem for users who prefer wired headphones.
Camera
Without a doubt, the device has an impressive camera. The camera module includes a 108 MP primary camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2 MP macro, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The display has a punch-hole cutout that packs a 32MP selfie shooter, helping the device achieve a 90.3% screen-to-body ratio.
The price of the device is considered overpriced compared to its competitors, as there are devices with better performance and features available at a lower or similar price. You can capture stunning photos and videos in various modes and scenarios, like night, portrait, panorama, and slow motion. It also supports 4K video recording, AI scene recognition, and electronic image stabilisation.
Battery and biometrics
The device has a 5000mAh battery that supports 66W fast charging, which is good for long-lasting use on a single charge. If it gets discharged, you can quickly charge the device. The battery performance of the device is quite strong, capable of heavy usage and multitasking without exhaustion. Additionally, the device has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which also works as a power button.
In addition to this, the device also supports face recognition, which can be used to unlock the device or access certain apps. The biometrics of the device are advanced and convenient, offering a high level of security and privacy for users.
Price, colour, and Availability
The price of the device in China is CNY 1,999 (~Rs 23,000) for the 256GB variant, and CNY 21,999 (~Rs 23,000) for the 512GB configuration. The device is available for pre-order in China and will officially go on sale in India on March 28, 2024, with a starting price of Rs 23,090. The device comes in four different colours: black, white, blue, and green.
Conclusion
This device is not considered to be future-proof for several reasons. Considering the device is overpriced, it also lacks a lot of features compared to its competitors, which are common but also offer better performance and features for a lower or similar price.
